Stevie Nicks' Song "Edge of Seventeen" – Inspired by Deaths and a Misheard Conversation

 

Stevie in her witchy attire

Stevie Nicks' career as a member of Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist has been impressive. As a kid I fell in love with her because she was beautiful and talented, and as I grew up I never stopped getting her albums and never stopped loving her work. 

I saw Fleetwood Mac in concert a few times and, although the whole band was awesome, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her stage presence. She had the wickedly witchy way of dressing, and Stevie moved around the stage in like a ghostly haze. It was impossible for me to stop watching her lithe movements, even if she wasn't singing the lead vocal. 

This album is so amazing

I must have played Fleetwood Mac's album Rumors probably a thousand times when it first came out – I still have it by the way – but it was the song "Dreams" with Stevie's lead vocal that I wanted to hear again and again, so I went out and bought the single. I still think this was their greatest album and "Dreams" was one of their best songs.

Sad Inspiration

Stevie started thinking about the song and wanted it to be about the romance between Tom Petty and his wife Jane; however, one sad week changed everything.

John in NYC 1975

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was assassinated in New York City. In that same week her beloved Uncle Jonathan passed away from cancer. Deeply affected by both events, Stevie decided to turn the song into something to help her deal with these tragedies. 

The Title and a Misheard Word

Stevie was talking to Jane Petty about how she had met Tom. During the conversation she mentioned something about them being "the age of seventeen." Jane happened to speak with a heavy Southern accent, so Stevie thought she heard "edge of seventeen" instead. 

Although she changed the nature of the song after Lennon's and her uncle's deaths, Stevie kept the title and reworked the song, and we have the beloved classic song that we can appreciate today!

The White-Winged Dove and the Night Bird

Stevie  on the cover

The memorable and powerful imagery of the white-winged dove in the song came from a restaurant menu in Phoenix, Arizona. Stevie later explained that after she changed the song to one serious in nature that involved two deaths, and she envisioned that the dove would be representative of the soul leaving the body.

The night bird in the song represents Death "singin "Come away" (come away, come away). When you listen to the song again, the white-winged dove seems to prevail over Death, and takes the soul away with it to heaven. 

Bella Donna 

Stevie's first solo album was Bella Donna, and the record was released in July 1981 and became a juggernaut. It reached number one the Billboard 200, and it was greeted with overwhelmingly critical acclaim and was a financial success, selling over 5 million copies. 

"Edge of Seventeen" and three other singles from the album made the Billboard Hot 100, and Stevie would begin her White-Winged Dove Tour in November 1981 with her band and backup singers from the album. Rolling Stone crowned her "the Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll," and it seemed like she was on a trajectory at the time to be as big of a sensation as Fleetwood Mac.

Takeaways

Tom and Jane Petty

While Stevie's song started out as a planned romantic song for her friends Tom and Jane Petty, it ended up being an iconic song about death and eternal peace. Perhaps the original idea for the song would have been a hit, but the way it turned out made it an iconic rock and roll masterpiece.

And as for me, the kid who fell in love with Stevie still loves her. She has been true to her craft and desire to bring her fans joy through her music. Stevie Nicks is a legend, and I believe "Edge of Seventeen" is her greatest hit that will go down as one of the most enduring rock songs of all time. 

 

Please watch this video to understand the power of this song!